His proposal was rejected once again, and he even got a verbal lashing for it.

Li Yuanzhao left the Imperial Study feeling dejected.

Had he known, he should have padded himself beforehand. He was out of practice; he hadn’t expected his father to ambush him like that.

His mood now completely soured, he had no desire to go to Banshan District. Instead, he headed straight back to the Eastern Palace.

Upon returning to Ciqing Palace, Li Yuanzhao felt an inexplicable irritation.

He waved away the eunuchs and palace maids, leaving only Liu Jin by his side to attend to him.

He sat there, staring blankly, not knowing what to do with himself.

Time passed, and it was soon noon.

Liu Jin, noticing his state, bowed and asked, “Is Your Highness hungry? Shall this servant prepare some food for you?”

Li Yuanzhao shook his head and sighed, “No need. I have no appetite.”

“Ah, when Old Fang was here, I felt like there wasn’t enough time in the day to finish everything. Now that he’s gone, I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Liu Jin’s eyes lit up. “Is Your Highness feeling bored and lonely? Then shall this servant bring some tigers and leopards to entertain-“

“Silence! You useless thing! Is playing with cats and dogs all you can come up with? Can’t you think of something new?”

Li Yuanzhao looked disgusted. He had outgrown such base amusements.

What fun was there in a couple of little cats anymore?

Liu Jin laughed awkwardly. “Whatever Your Highness wants to do, this servant can accompany you.”

“Can you run a newspaper?”

“Can you provide disaster relief?”

“Can you compose poetry?”

Li Yuanzhao looked at Liu Jin with disdain.

Liu Jin’s expression froze, unable to utter a word.

Seeing this, Li Yuanzhao waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it! I doubt you can do any of that. All you know is how to wave that broken magnifying glass in front of me!”

“Go, fetch me some books to read. Old Fang often told me to read when he was here. Now that I have nothing to do, I might as well read!”

Liu Jin’s face lit up in understanding. He hurried off to fetch the books, returning shortly with a stack in his arms.

He placed the books on the table in front of Li Yuanzhao, spreading them out one by one.

“Wives and Concubines Galore,” “The Carefree Immortal,” “Golden Scales”…

Li Yuanzhao’s face gradually darkened. He looked at Liu Jin expressionlessly, then suddenly flipped the table in front of him!

Various indescribable books scattered across the floor.

Before Liu Jin could react, Li Yuanzhao’s angry shout rang out: “You fool! Can’t you see I’m not in the mood for this? Is this what I wanted to read?”

“Ah, you’re utterly useless!”

“Nevermind! Clean up this mess! I’m not reading books anymore. Bring me all the newspapers instead!”

Liu Jin, terrified, knelt on the ground and began picking up the scattered books.

But in his heart, he grumbled. Didn’t you used to read these every day… Now you’re pretending to be all proper… Sigh!

After cleaning up, Liu Jin turned to fetch the newspapers.

Ever since the newspaper office was established, Li Yuanzhao had developed a habit. The Eastern Palace would keep a copy of each day’s newspaper.

There was no particular reason for this, mainly because the daily paper bore his name.

Sometimes when he returned to the Eastern Palace and looked at them, he felt an extraordinary sense of achievement.

When Liu Jin returned with the newspapers, Li Yuanzhao sat at his desk and began to flip through them one by one.

As he read the contents of the newspapers, he alternated between foolish grins and frowns.

Liu Jin stood to the side, occasionally glancing at the papers, and when there was nothing to do, he would lift his clothes to polish his magnifying glass.

As the sky gradually darkened, oil lamps were lit on the desk. Liu Jin busied himself lighting candles throughout the great hall.

Li Yuanzhao finally finished reading all the newspapers.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Muttering to himself, “Old Fang really knows what he’s doing… He’s so bold…”

Then he turned to Liu Jin and asked, “Liu, let me ask you, if I’ve repeatedly submitted memorials to Imperial Father about something and he hasn’t agreed, what should I do next?”

Liu Jin stopped what he was doing and replied seriously, “Then His Majesty must have his reasons.”

“What if I insist on doing it anyway?”

“This… This servant doesn’t know!” Liu Jin put on a bitter face. Why are you asking me this?

How could I, a mere eunuch, understand or dare to comment on such matters?

Li Yuanzhao raised an eyebrow. “You don’t dare say? Fine! Then let me ask you this: if Old Fang had submitted a memorial to Imperial Father and he didn’t agree, what would he do?”

Liu Jin looked troubled.

Don’t ask… Don’t ask… I can’t afford to offend either of them!

Seeing him silent, Li Yuanzhao fixed him with an intense gaze. “Speak! You must tell me the truth! If you dare lie, I’ll smash your magnifying glass!”

Liu Jin trembled all over and said despairingly, “If His Majesty doesn’t agree, no one can do anything about it!”

“Master Fang is usually with you, I really don’t know what he would do! Your Highness, this servant truly doesn’t understand!”

“Alright, you may go now!” Li Yuanzhao dismissed Liu Jin.

Now he sat alone in the great hall.

Although many candles had been lit, the hall still seemed dim and silent.

Li Yuanzhao pondered deeply.

If it were Old Fang… what would he do?

Keep submitting memorials like me? No, he definitely wouldn’t!

Old Fang has attended court for so long, but he rarely speaks up. When he does, he only reports good news, never bad. Imperial Father always grins foolishly when he sees him.

In his daily affairs, he always acts first and reports later… He’s never really informed Imperial Father beforehand.

Even with something as significant as the newspaper, he did the same…

After long deliberation, a flash of understanding appeared in Li Yuanzhao’s eyes. He shouted, “Liu! Liu! Where have you gone? Get over here!”

Liu Jin, who had been waiting just outside the door, hurried in nervously.

Li Yuanzhao smiled. “Isn’t Eunuch Guo your adoptive father?”

Liu Jin hesitated, unsure of where this was going. “Yes…”

“Doesn’t he oversee the Shangbao Palace? Isn’t he there at this hour?”

Liu Jin, still bewildered, nodded.

Li Yuanzhao smiled with satisfaction. “Good. Go find me two reliable guards. Don’t make a fuss about it. If anyone else finds out, I’ll have you castrated again!”

“Understood! This servant will go right away!” Liu Jin didn’t ask any more questions. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and ran out.

The Crown Prince was acting too strangely today, his mood seemed unpredictable. Better to just do as he says!

Before long, Liu Jin returned with two guards.

As soon as they arrived, Li Yuanzhao spoke directly, “You three, come with me. Don’t speak on the way!”

Without waiting for their response, he strode out.

By now it was dark outside, and the night patrol had begun their rounds in the palace.

Li Yuanzhao hurriedly led the three towards the Shangbao Palace. When questioned along the way, people saw it was the Crown Prince and said no more.

They arrived at the Shangbao Palace without incident. Li Yuanzhao instructed the three to wait outside while he entered alone with large strides.

Inside, a eunuch came to greet him. Li Yuanzhao said nothing, only asking for Guo Tianyang’s location before seeking him out himself.

Seeing Li Yuanzhao arrive, Guo Tianyang immediately put on a smile. “Oh, Crown Prince, what brings you here at this hour?”